06/05/2026
Masdevallias have been one of my favorite orchid genera since I first started in the plant hobby many years ago. I still remember reading about them in a book and instantly knowing I had to try growing them myself.
At that time, I knew almost nothing about the requirements of these orchids… so, of course, I ended up killing every single one 😅
To be fair, the Spanish summer did not help either.
Over the years, I kept experimenting with different setups, temperatures, humidity levels, and growing methods, trying to understand what these incredible orchids really needed.
One thing I learned is that, no matter what the literature says about plant requirements, every place and every setup is different. A closed terrarium is one thing — there you can control almost everything almost perfectly because it’s such a small environment, and honestly, I had very good results growing them that way.
But greenhouses are a completely different story. Every greenhouse has its own microclimates, airflow, humidity pockets, hot zones, cooler corners… and that’s also part of the fun. Learning your own system, understanding how it behaves through the seasons, and discovering which plants thrive in each specific spot.
And even though the species in this reel is not technically a highland species, I have noticed that almost all Masdevallias — and honestly most Pleurothallids — seem to benefit from cooler, more highland-like conditions.
After years of testing, failing, and adjusting, I finally found ways to keep them happy even through our extreme summers. And honestly, seeing them thrive now makes the whole journey worth it.
